[REVIEW] HONOR X9c – Unmatched Durability and Long-Lasting Battery

The HONOR X9c has officially launched in Malaysia. It is HONOR’s toughest and most durability-centric phone, following the HONOR X9b, which was released less than a year prior.

While still a mid-range device, the HONOR X9c arrives with a few notable internal upgrades and a significantly larger yet advanced battery, flagship-tier display, and improved camera.

HONOR X9c Specifications

What included?

Design

Not gonna lie, the HONOR X9c is visually almost identical to the HONOR X9b and also the HONOX X9a. Not in a bad way as they have a pretty premium design to begin with like a curved display and back edges, making it comfortable to hold. The matte glass finish is less fingerprint magnet and the circular ring camera module makes it look symmetrical, which I like a lot.

The power and volume rocker buttons are positioned on the right side.

A dual SIM card slot tray can be found at the bottom, alongside the USB-C charging port and speaker grille.

It also features an optical in-display fingerprint scanner.

Durability

The key selling point of the HONOR X9-series is definitely its durability When you think the HONOR X9b offers unbeatable toughness, the HONOR X9c stepped up its game by offering Anti-drop 3.0 technology which allows the device to withstand complex surfaces in drop resistance up to 2.0 meter. This has significantly enhanced by 166% compared to its predecessor.

The HONR X9c has received the industry’s first SGS 5-star Comprehensive Reliability Certification for its ultra-tough triple defense from drop, water, and scratch resistance.

You can check out the drop, water intrusion, and scratch tests video below;

HONOR is confident in its product and offers Triple Defense, Triple Assurance warranty. Where to provide 365-day front and back crack replacement, 180-day one-to-one replacement, and a 36-month battery health assurance. I believe there isn’t any other brand out there that comes close to matching its level of confidence.

Display & Speaker

Another new upgrade is its display. The panel now pushes a higher resolution of 2,700 x 1,224 and boosts a max peak brightness of 4,000 nits. Still over an adaptive 120Hz refresh rate that switches between 60Hz and 120Hz.

The screen features 3,840Hz PWM Dimming and Circadian Night Display Technology eye protection which was available on HONOR’s flagship device like its HONOR Magic series.

They are not only bright, but the colors are vibrant, especially in supported streaming media that supports Video Enhancer like YouTube, Netflix, Facebook, and Instagram.

After the third iteration, finally improved its entertainment experience with a dual speaker that can boost up to 300% max volume. They are impressively loud without much distortion.

Performance

The mid-tier Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 won’t blow you away, but it’s perfectly adequate for everyday tasks. Paired with a generous 12GB of memory and supports HONOR RAM Turbo which can expand the memory up to 24GB.

The 4nm process chip is quite power efficient which further prolongs the battery life, thanks to the larger and advanced battery chemistry – more on the battery.

Camera

HONOR decided to drop out the macro lens and keep the most practical lens; a 108MP primary camera which now includes Optical Image Stabilization and a mediocre 5MP ultrawide.

With the new HONOR Image Engine and OIS, it enhanced the overall camera performance despite having the same sensor as its predecessor. It has a wide dynamic range and noise control even in low light. The only problem is the inconsistent white balance when I switch between the primary and ultrawide, this happened in video mode.

Here are some photo samples taken by HONOR X9c

Full resolution: GDrive

HONOR AI

There are some AI features implemented such as;

AI Eraser: Uses AI to remove unwanted objects or backgrounds from photos, keeping your memories clear and distraction-free.

HONOR AI Motion Sensing: Captures action shots and special moments accurately, with an AI trained on over 8 million images to recognize different scenes.

Magic Capsule: Enables smooth interactions with notifications, making them easy to manage and respond to.

Magic Portal: Quickly access apps by long-pressing on text or images and swiping at the screen’s edge—compatible with popular apps like WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, and more.

Parallel Space: Separates work and personal data securely with isolated storage, allowing users to run dual apps independently as if having two phones in one.

Battery

The HONOR X9c not only bumped a substantial increase in battery capacity but also incorporates a more advanced silicon-carbon battery with higher energy density, all while maintaining the same size. As a result, the HONOR X9c manages to pack an impressive 6,600mAh—800mAh more—without adding any extra weight or thickness.

Battery life on the HONOR X9b was already impressive, but the X9c takes it to another level. Using it as a secondary phone with a SIM card, I went nearly four days before needing a recharge.

Additionally, fast charging has been significantly upgraded, now supporting 66W HONOR SuperCharge.

Verdict

If you are after a phone that can survive everyday mishaps and handle life’s bumps and hassles, the HONOR X9c should be on your list. It may not be a performer in terms of camera or gaming capability, but it stands out in durability. It easily smokes those thick yet bulky rugged-marketed phones with better specification and experience.

Plus, HONOR offers 365-day front and back crack replacement, 180-day 1-to-1 replacement, and 3-year battery health assurance.

The HONOR X9c is available for pre-order now at RM 1,499 and RM 1,699 for 256GB and 512GB storage respectively.

Pre-order

• Shopee Malaysia
• Lazada Malaysia